Questions on Positioning

[missingleg]

1) At the bowler's end

A bowler today asked me to take a step back from my normal comfortable postion at the bowler's end (close enough to see the creases without having to move my head when the ball's delivered).

I said okay, even though I was uncomfortable with it. He then asked me to step back further, and further still. Now, the creases were very poorly marked and hard enough to see already but I thought that it wouldn't be fair to get the bowler to change his run up/action on the basis of my comfort. After all, I could still see the creases, which is what I said when the non-striker questioned this.

In that over I had already called 2 no-balls and the legal deliveries were marginal too. On the last ball of the over the batsman edged to slip and was out. The non-striker then said to me 'that was a no-ball'. I felt rotten about it, as it was another marginal one, with the back of the front foot landing somewhere around the imaginary crease marking but I couldn't tell. My partner made me feel better by saying you shouldn't give a no-ball unless you're sure of it, but at the same time I couldn't help but feel I would have been more certain standing closer to the stumps, and that the non-striker probably had the best view of everyone.

In light of this, next time should I say to the bowler 'no, you have to change your run up' the next time he asks me to stand back?

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2. At the striker's end:

Isn't it more logical always to place yourself at 'point' at the striker's end? From this position you can always see the entire leg side field for potential no-balls for more than 2 fielders behind square, whereas at 'square leg' your view is very limited.

Also, the majority of catches from edges are on the batsman's off-side (via the wicketkeeper and slips) so you would have a closer view of whether balls carry or not.

I'm not sure what the advantage of square-leg is over point.

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Finally, does anyone have any tips about how to track the ball from umpiring at the striker's end. First, you have to check the bowler's action for legality and for any distractions he may be making, at the same time you have to make sure the 'keeper's gloves (and body) are behind the stumps, at the same time you have to watch the batsmen's feet and bat to see if he's in his ground for a stumping, at the same time you have to see if the wicket is broken fairly.

Is this just something that comes with experience? I find my eyes dart everywhere!

[Acumen]

Several points

1) At the bowler's end

Law 24.5 says "... if the umpire is not satisfied ... ".

If I was asked to go too far back, I would explain to the bowler that I might be calling in the favour of the batsman.

I have also explained (off the field) that a bowler who is very close to the crease also gets fewer LBW and snick decisions in his favour because I have not been able to get my eyes up early enough. (I have recently found two academic papers on eye movement which I hope to precis and publicise soon).

I also carry a small flat plastic bottle (200ml) with whitener to refresh the creases when necessary during the game.

2. At the striker's end:

The logic for generally being on leg side is five fold:

a) less interference with fielders (esp point but also gully or midwicket moving quickly)

b) less interference of your view by fielders (esp point)

c) easier and quicker to identify and avoid a ball coming towards you.

d) less likely to be influenced by movement of the bat distracting you from the feet for a stumping.

e) watching bowler's action (assuming right arm over)

As regards the leg side field, this rarely occurs these days but I do move boundary markers so that they are in line with Popping Crease on both sides. This makes it much easier to look over your shoulder and know whether a fielder is in front or behind.

By the way, I also do that near the sight screen. A flag in line with middle stump gives a very good guide as to the position of the inner edge of the screen and makes their movement between left arm and right arm over wicket bowlers very simple.
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Finally, at the striker's end.

I am glad your eyes do dart everywhere - many umpires are far too static.

If the keeper is standing back, then obviously watch the bowler and track the ball until it reaches the striker (to help colleague with beamers, bouncers, height for LBW etc, if he asks), then, generally watch him for hit wicket before glancing at the ball in flight and lookng back for short runs an run out.

Give the ball more attention only if there may be a low catch (helping your colleague with his responsibility) but still be aware of hit wicket (your overriding responsibility) if the striker is close to wicket. Also, when a high catch, watch for batsmen crossing - when it is too late for hit wicket.

If, however, the keeper is close to the stumps, I prefer to stand in line with bowling crease - it is much easier to identify that infringement for certain with less concentrated focus. It makes stumpings fractionally more difficult but generally the striker will be grounded (or not) close to the marked crease. Move back to Popping crease as soon as they run to improve angle especially if they run wide of markings.

In all the above situations, there may be unusual circumstances that cause you to switch position or direction of eyes overrinding the normal guidelines.

[missingleg]

Thanks Acumen I appreciate the advice.

I thought a batsman had hit his wicket the other day when a bail fell off on his backswing. I t turns out the wicketkeeper had accidentally flicked it off with his glove. I'm glad there was no appeal!

[johnfgolding]

Jul 19, 2009 9:31:07 GMT missingleg said:

Thanks Acumen I appreciate the advice.

I thought a batsman had hit his wicket the other day when a bail fell off on his backswing. I t turns out the wicketkeeper had accidentally flicked it off with his glove. I'm glad there was no appeal!

All Acumens advice is sound, you need to be in the best position to make a decision.
You mentioned the keeper accidentally taking the bails off with his gloves. I had exactly that a couple of weekends ago, whilst standing at square leg.
A loud appeal for bowled, my colleague looking at me, the batsman not walking. I shook my head and when the ball was dead went to my colleague.

I told my colleague what I saw, he said he was worried about the appeal, it did not feel right to him but did not see how the bails were removed. He gave then NO OUT.

Naturally there was the expected 10 minutes of “the worst umpires on earth, the worst decision ever made” comments. At the end of the day all ended OK, with players & spectators saying that it was unlikely both umpires could not get that decision wrong and the captains’ marks reflected a good day’s performance.

[Number 6]

Just a quick point on the foot no-ball. The laws state that the umpire has to be satisfied that the feet land legally. That doesn't mean the umpire has to know where the feet land but that he has to be satisfied that he knows - it's a subtle difference.

If the bowlers front foot is landing so close to the crease, especially if the marking is worn or non-existent, that it's becoming impossible to judge the fairness of the footfall then I always no-ball. This has two effects, 1) it protects the batsman if that delivery would have otherwise resulted in a dismissal and 2) it gives the bowler a heads-up. Invariably the bowler asks why and I then say I'm not happy with the placement of his front foot. The bowler has to make sure that the umpire is happy, usually by adjusting his run up so that his foot falls 2 or 3 inches further back.

[cavebubonem]

Absolutely fine with that, Number 6 - the pity is, I hear bowlers asking my colleague where their foot was, after being penalised, and then having a demonstration!